Doctoral studies in global time and change - female doctoral student and individual lifecourse in Finland

Abstract

Multiple global changes in the form of knowledge and the change in the doctoral education create the need to examine the current practices of doctoral degree. The change forces discussion about the future of doctoral education and the future of the prospective doctors. The doctoral education has to answer the demands set for it. Forming a comprehensive understanding requires an examination at the micro and macro level. In this article I examine the lifecourse of the under 40-year-old female doctoral student with a family and the significance of doctoral studies at the individual level. I concentrate on the personal lifecourse experiences of the women and on the chronological stories which are based on them. It is interesting to examine the meeting of the public and individual lifecourse and their constant dialogue. The article is based on my doctoral thesis research in education.